diff --git a/core/blockchain_reader.go b/core/blockchain_reader.go
index 025b912ceb..415a0f5442 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_reader.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_reader.go
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetHeaderByNumber(number uint64) *types.Header {
 	return bc.hc.GetHeaderByNumber(number)
 }
 
+// GetBlockNumber retrieves the block number associated with a block hash.
+func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockNumber(hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
+	return bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+}
+
 // GetHeadersFrom returns a contiguous segment of headers, in rlp-form, going
 // backwards from the given number.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetHeadersFrom(number, count uint64) []rlp.RawValue {
diff --git a/eth/api_backend.go b/eth/api_backend.go
index c8c5ca707f..944c357e78 100644
--- a/eth/api_backend.go
+++ b/eth/api_backend.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/txpool"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/ethconfig"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/gasprice"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/tracers"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -91,7 +92,13 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, number rpc.BlockNumb
 		}
 		return block, nil
 	}
-	return b.eth.blockchain.GetHeaderByNumber(uint64(number)), nil
+	var bn uint64
+	if number == rpc.EarliestBlockNumber {
+		bn = b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff()
+	} else {
+		bn = uint64(number)
+	}
+	return b.eth.blockchain.GetHeaderByNumber(bn), nil
 }
 
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) HeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*types.Header, error) {
@@ -143,11 +150,27 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) BlockByNumber(ctx context.Context, number rpc.BlockNumbe
 		}
 		return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlock(header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()), nil
 	}
-	return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByNumber(uint64(number)), nil
+	bn := uint64(number) // the resolved number
+	if number == rpc.EarliestBlockNumber {
+		bn = b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff()
+	}
+	block := b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByNumber(bn)
+	if block == nil && bn < b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff() {
+		return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+	}
+	return block, nil
 }
 
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) BlockByHash(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (*types.Block, error) {
-	return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByHash(hash), nil
+	number := b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	block := b.eth.blockchain.GetBlock(hash, *number)
+	if block == nil && *number < b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff() {
+		return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+	}
+	return block, nil
 }
 
 // GetBody returns body of a block. It does not resolve special block numbers.
@@ -155,10 +178,14 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetBody(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash, number rp
 	if number < 0 || hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil, errors.New("invalid arguments; expect hash and no special block numbers")
 	}
-	if body := b.eth.blockchain.GetBody(hash); body != nil {
-		return body, nil
+	body := b.eth.blockchain.GetBody(hash)
+	if body == nil {
+		if uint64(number) < b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff() {
+			return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+		}
+		return nil, errors.New("block body not found")
 	}
-	return nil, errors.New("block body not found")
+	return body, nil
 }
 
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) BlockByNumberOrHash(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) (*types.Block, error) {
@@ -175,6 +202,9 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) BlockByNumberOrHash(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash r
 		}
 		block := b.eth.blockchain.GetBlock(hash, header.Number.Uint64())
 		if block == nil {
+			if header.Number.Uint64() < b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff() {
+				return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+			}
 			return nil, errors.New("header found, but block body is missing")
 		}
 		return block, nil
@@ -234,6 +264,10 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) StateAndHeaderByNumberOrHash(ctx context.Context, blockN
 	return nil, nil, errors.New("invalid arguments; neither block nor hash specified")
 }
 
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) HistoryPruningCutoff() uint64 {
+	return b.eth.blockchain.HistoryPruningCutoff()
+}
+
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
 	return b.eth.blockchain.GetReceiptsByHash(hash), nil
 }
diff --git a/eth/ethconfig/historymode.go b/eth/ethconfig/historymode.go
index c3661004e8..a595d72feb 100644
--- a/eth/ethconfig/historymode.go
+++ b/eth/ethconfig/historymode.go
@@ -90,3 +90,9 @@ var HistoryPrunePoints = map[common.Hash]*HistoryPrunePoint{
 		BlockHash:   common.HexToHash("0x229f6b18ca1552f1d5146deceb5387333f40dc6275aebee3f2c5c4ece07d02db"),
 	},
 }
+
+// PrunedHistoryError is returned when the requested history is pruned.
+type PrunedHistoryError struct{}
+
+func (e *PrunedHistoryError) Error() string  { return "pruned history unavailable" }
+func (e *PrunedHistoryError) ErrorCode() int { return 4444 }
diff --git a/eth/filters/api.go b/eth/filters/api.go
index e3057a2af2..6593cbef27 100644
--- a/eth/filters/api.go
+++ b/eth/filters/api.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/ethconfig"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/ethapi"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
@@ -354,9 +355,13 @@ func (api *FilterAPI) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, crit FilterCriteria) ([]*type
 		if crit.ToBlock != nil {
 			end = crit.ToBlock.Int64()
 		}
+		// Block numbers below 0 are special cases.
 		if begin > 0 && end > 0 && begin > end {
 			return nil, errInvalidBlockRange
 		}
+		if begin > 0 && begin < int64(api.events.backend.HistoryPruningCutoff()) {
+			return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+		}
 		// Construct the range filter
 		filter = api.sys.NewRangeFilter(begin, end, crit.Addresses, crit.Topics)
 	}
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter.go b/eth/filters/filter.go
index b743c25994..e44b37d047 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/filtermaps"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/ethconfig"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
@@ -86,6 +87,9 @@ func (f *Filter) Logs(ctx context.Context) ([]*types.Log, error) {
 		if header == nil {
 			return nil, errors.New("unknown block")
 		}
+		if header.Number.Uint64() < f.sys.backend.HistoryPruningCutoff() {
+			return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+		}
 		return f.blockLogs(ctx, header)
 	}
 
@@ -114,11 +118,19 @@ func (f *Filter) Logs(ctx context.Context) ([]*types.Log, error) {
 				return 0, errors.New("safe header not found")
 			}
 			return hdr.Number.Uint64(), nil
+		case rpc.EarliestBlockNumber.Int64():
+			earliest := f.sys.backend.HistoryPruningCutoff()
+			hdr, _ := f.sys.backend.HeaderByNumber(ctx, rpc.BlockNumber(earliest))
+			if hdr == nil {
+				return 0, errors.New("earliest header not found")
+			}
+			return hdr.Number.Uint64(), nil
+		default:
+			if number < 0 {
+				return 0, errors.New("negative block number")
+			}
+			return uint64(number), nil
 		}
-		if number < 0 {
-			return 0, errors.New("negative block number")
-		}
-		return uint64(number), nil
 	}
 
 	// range query need to resolve the special begin/end block number
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_system.go b/eth/filters/filter_system.go
index 7531a1ecfc..aca3c03ad6 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_system.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_system.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/filtermaps"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/ethconfig"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ type Backend interface {
 
 	CurrentHeader() *types.Header
 	ChainConfig() *params.ChainConfig
+	HistoryPruningCutoff() uint64
 	SubscribeNewTxsEvent(chan<- core.NewTxsEvent) event.Subscription
 	SubscribeChainEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainEvent) event.Subscription
 	SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(ch chan<- core.RemovedLogsEvent) event.Subscription
@@ -304,6 +306,14 @@ func (es *EventSystem) SubscribeLogs(crit ethereum.FilterQuery, logs chan []*typ
 		return nil, errPendingLogsUnsupported
 	}
 
+	if from == rpc.EarliestBlockNumber {
+		from = rpc.BlockNumber(es.backend.HistoryPruningCutoff())
+	}
+	// Queries beyond the pruning cutoff are not supported.
+	if uint64(from) < es.backend.HistoryPruningCutoff() {
+		return nil, &ethconfig.PrunedHistoryError{}
+	}
+
 	// only interested in new mined logs
 	if from == rpc.LatestBlockNumber && to == rpc.LatestBlockNumber {
 		return es.subscribeLogs(crit, logs), nil
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go b/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go
index c35d823f5a..3bb019d105 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ func (b *testBackend) setPending(block *types.Block, receipts types.Receipts) {
 	b.pendingReceipts = receipts
 }
 
+func (b *testBackend) HistoryPruningCutoff() uint64 {
+	return 0
+}
+
 func newTestFilterSystem(db ethdb.Database, cfg Config) (*testBackend, *FilterSystem) {
 	backend := &testBackend{db: db}
 	sys := NewFilterSystem(backend, cfg)
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index 36a5df8087..3b699748b8 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -549,21 +549,23 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetUncleByBlockHashAndIndex(ctx context.Context, block
 }
 
 // GetUncleCountByBlockNumber returns number of uncles in the block for the given block number
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetUncleCountByBlockNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) *hexutil.Uint {
-	if block, _ := api.b.BlockByNumber(ctx, blockNr); block != nil {
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetUncleCountByBlockNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*hexutil.Uint, error) {
+	block, err := api.b.BlockByNumber(ctx, blockNr)
+	if block != nil {
 		n := hexutil.Uint(len(block.Uncles()))
-		return &n
+		return &n, nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return nil, err
 }
 
 // GetUncleCountByBlockHash returns number of uncles in the block for the given block hash
-func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetUncleCountByBlockHash(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) *hexutil.Uint {
-	if block, _ := api.b.BlockByHash(ctx, blockHash); block != nil {
+func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetUncleCountByBlockHash(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (*hexutil.Uint, error) {
+	block, err := api.b.BlockByHash(ctx, blockHash)
+	if block != nil {
 		n := hexutil.Uint(len(block.Uncles()))
-		return &n
+		return &n, nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return nil, err
 }
 
 // GetCode returns the code stored at the given address in the state for the given block number.
@@ -596,9 +598,7 @@ func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetStorageAt(ctx context.Context, address common.Addre
 func (api *BlockChainAPI) GetBlockReceipts(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNumberOrHash) ([]map[string]interface{}, error) {
 	block, err := api.b.BlockByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
 	if block == nil || err != nil {
-		// When the block doesn't exist, the RPC method should return JSON null
-		// as per specification.
-		return nil, nil
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	receipts, err := api.b.GetReceipts(ctx, block.Hash())
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1258,37 +1258,41 @@ func NewTransactionAPI(b Backend, nonceLock *AddrLocker) *TransactionAPI {
 }
 
 // GetBlockTransactionCountByNumber returns the number of transactions in the block with the given block number.
-func (api *TransactionAPI) GetBlockTransactionCountByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) *hexutil.Uint {
-	if block, _ := api.b.BlockByNumber(ctx, blockNr); block != nil {
+func (api *TransactionAPI) GetBlockTransactionCountByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*hexutil.Uint, error) {
+	block, err := api.b.BlockByNumber(ctx, blockNr)
+	if block != nil {
 		n := hexutil.Uint(len(block.Transactions()))
-		return &n
+		return &n, nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return nil, err
 }
 
 // GetBlockTransactionCountByHash returns the number of transactions in the block with the given hash.
-func (api *TransactionAPI) GetBlockTransactionCountByHash(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) *hexutil.Uint {
-	if block, _ := api.b.BlockByHash(ctx, blockHash); block != nil {
+func (api *TransactionAPI) GetBlockTransactionCountByHash(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (*hexutil.Uint, error) {
+	block, err := api.b.BlockByHash(ctx, blockHash)
+	if block != nil {
 		n := hexutil.Uint(len(block.Transactions()))
-		return &n
+		return &n, nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return nil, err
 }
 
 // GetTransactionByBlockNumberAndIndex returns the transaction for the given block number and index.
-func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionByBlockNumberAndIndex(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber, index hexutil.Uint) *RPCTransaction {
-	if block, _ := api.b.BlockByNumber(ctx, blockNr); block != nil {
-		return newRPCTransactionFromBlockIndex(block, uint64(index), api.b.ChainConfig())
+func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionByBlockNumberAndIndex(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber, index hexutil.Uint) (*RPCTransaction, error) {
+	block, err := api.b.BlockByNumber(ctx, blockNr)
+	if block != nil {
+		return newRPCTransactionFromBlockIndex(block, uint64(index), api.b.ChainConfig()), nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return nil, err
 }
 
 // GetTransactionByBlockHashAndIndex returns the transaction for the given block hash and index.
-func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionByBlockHashAndIndex(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash, index hexutil.Uint) *RPCTransaction {
-	if block, _ := api.b.BlockByHash(ctx, blockHash); block != nil {
-		return newRPCTransactionFromBlockIndex(block, uint64(index), api.b.ChainConfig())
+func (api *TransactionAPI) GetTransactionByBlockHashAndIndex(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash, index hexutil.Uint) (*RPCTransaction, error) {
+	block, err := api.b.BlockByHash(ctx, blockHash)
+	if block != nil {
+		return newRPCTransactionFromBlockIndex(block, uint64(index), api.b.ChainConfig()), nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return nil, err
 }
 
 // GetRawTransactionByBlockNumberAndIndex returns the bytes of the transaction for the given block number and index.
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api_test.go b/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
index 1ed1a8c8d8..37210aa78b 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
@@ -520,8 +520,12 @@ func (b testBackend) BlockByNumber(ctx context.Context, number rpc.BlockNumber)
 	if number == rpc.PendingBlockNumber {
 		return b.pending, nil
 	}
+	if number == rpc.EarliestBlockNumber {
+		number = 0
+	}
 	return b.chain.GetBlockByNumber(uint64(number)), nil
 }
+
 func (b testBackend) BlockByHash(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (*types.Block, error) {
 	return b.chain.GetBlockByHash(hash), nil
 }
@@ -618,6 +622,9 @@ func (b testBackend) SubscribeLogsEvent(ch chan<- []*types.Log) event.Subscripti
 func (b testBackend) NewMatcherBackend() filtermaps.MatcherBackend {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
+
+func (b testBackend) HistoryPruningCutoff() uint64 { return b.chain.HistoryPruningCutoff() }
+
 func TestEstimateGas(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	// Initialize test accounts
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/backend.go b/internal/ethapi/backend.go
index 9e2ea2c876..c4bf2e0591 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/backend.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/backend.go
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ type Backend interface {
 
 	ChainConfig() *params.ChainConfig
 	Engine() consensus.Engine
+	HistoryPruningCutoff() uint64
 
 	// This is copied from filters.Backend
 	// eth/filters needs to be initialized from this backend type, so methods needed by
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go b/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go
index a5fd9bb0d4..b4d11a3033 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go
@@ -402,3 +402,5 @@ func (b *backendMock) SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(ch chan<- core.RemovedLogsEvent)
 func (b *backendMock) Engine() consensus.Engine { return nil }
 
 func (b *backendMock) NewMatcherBackend() filtermaps.MatcherBackend { return nil }
+
+func (b *backendMock) HistoryPruningCutoff() uint64 { return 0 }
diff --git a/rpc/types.go b/rpc/types.go
index 2e53174b87..85f15344e8 100644
--- a/rpc/types.go
+++ b/rpc/types.go
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ type jsonWriter interface {
 type BlockNumber int64
 
 const (
+	EarliestBlockNumber  = BlockNumber(-5)
 	SafeBlockNumber      = BlockNumber(-4)
 	FinalizedBlockNumber = BlockNumber(-3)
 	LatestBlockNumber    = BlockNumber(-2)
 	PendingBlockNumber   = BlockNumber(-1)
-	EarliestBlockNumber  = BlockNumber(0)
 )
 
 // UnmarshalJSON parses the given JSON fragment into a BlockNumber. It supports: